The Sapphires and Emeralds

Maybe it's the altitude, at 6,400 feet everything seems more breathtaking. Born and raised in a subtropical island, landscapes like this in Lake Tahoe is a different world to me. 

The air is clean and crisp, sky is clear and blue. The sun feels warm and soothing on my skin. All the mountains and the lake seem bigger than life. I tried to take everything in at once but it's just impossible to do so. The lushness here made me forget for a second that I'm actually in Nevada. No Las Vegas strip, desserts or Grand Canyon. 

Starting from Stateline, NV, driving north on the east shore of the lake, we made a stop at Sand Harbor. Crossing the highway railing, we headed down a flight of wooden staircases. At the bottom of the cliff, giant grey rocks piled on top of each other and brought us closer to the water.

With a lake as big as Tahoe, the gentle waves that hit the shore offer a serene rhythm. Under the sun, on the rocks and by the water, soak in every drop of blessing I could. If there was anything that could make this moment more precious, it would be the company. 

PC: Dan Choi

On the other side of the lake, Emerald Bay is a deep blue cove with a sandy beach. It was boasted with activities including kayaking, standup paddleboarding and boating. It was a haven for people to immerse in the nature, it is full of action but clean, full of liveliness but soothing. 

In the middle of the cove, there's also a mini island where many people kayak over. Not as a sign of victory or conquest, I was so glad I made it to the island, just so I could switch the perspective and look back at the shore and mountains. 

Opposite of the calming sun bathe, Lake Tahoe has much more to offer. And we chose the fastest one. On-boarding this 20-foot boat, we cruised on the lake and rode the waves. 

Every splash of lake water and wind, we multiplied that with laughters. The people is often the magic behind many journeys. As the sun sets, we steered towards the shore and docked by the beach. 

Such a perfect getaway to leave the busy schedules behind and be reminded how small we are in the presence of nature. 

PC: Midori Wada

Goodbye Lake Tahoe, till next time.